Olivia I shiver in the cold. My body half floats, chilly bubbles wrapping around me. My
throat burns as I scream silently for someone to save my baby. It’s the only thing I have left
of Liam. Olivia. I tremble, reaching out. Hang on. Liam. I’m here. The light around me
grows fainter. I stretch my hand out. If I can just touch it, I know I’ll be okay, but the light is
pulling away too fast. No matter how I struggle, I’m just a hair’s breadth away from it, its
warmth barely grazing my fingertips. Please! Don’t go. I scream, but the words get stuck.
And I can’t— “Olivia, are you all right?” I blink, then squint at the overwhelming white
around me. The pungent scent of antis eptic stings my nose. The harsh fluorescent light over
my head. The be eping of machines, and the tubes... “Olivia, do you know where you are?” I
stare at the familiar figure. “Simon?” I whisper. “Yeah. I’m here.” I blink. “What... How...?”
He shifts. “I, uh, heard about what happened, and—” “Why did they contact you? Why not
Liam?” I swear I thought I heard him. Something flickers in Simon’s eyes. He looks down.
“Probably because I’m listed as your emergency contact.”
I frown, but that may be possible. I didn’t update my info after marrying Liam because I
foolishly didn’t plan on making our marriage last. “And Liam?” I prompt again. “He isn’t
here.” “But that doesn’t make any sense. Wasn’t he near the pool?” Didn’t he hear me fall
into the water? Or at least, even if he didn’t notice, wouldn’t he hear about it from
somebody? I know I didn’t crawl out of the pool on my own. Simon shrugs. “I wasn’t at the
party...” I push myself up and gasp as pain shoots through my chest. He places a hand on
my back to support me. “Careful. CPR probably left bruises.” I look around. Sure enough,
it’s just Simon and me in the room. My gut says something isn’t right. There’s no way Liam
wouldn’t have come to make sure the baby and I were okay. “Where did Liam go? Was he
here before?” Simon hesitates. “Tell me the truth.” He clears his throat. “He wasn’t here
when I got here.” “And you didn’t see him anywhere? Not even in the lobby?” My voice
cracks toward the end. He shakes his head. “No.” My heart shrivels. It might sound
opportunistic, but I wanted him to notice what happened and come to me, like in the movies
where the romantic hero rescues the girl of his dreams from danger and realizes he can’t be
away from her, and they live happily ever after. Should’ve known my life wouldn’t go like
that. Why would Liam care? He didn’t come to the OB-GYN appointment. Even though I
sent him the recording, he might not have listened to it. I close my eyes against the pain.
It’s karma for the way I pulled away. Girl, if you can dish it out, you should be able to take it
too. “I need to talk to the doctor.” I need to make sure the baby’s all right. “You can go
now.” Simon shakes his head. “Let me take care of you while you’re recovering.” “I can’t.
You broke my trust when you did what you did.” “Olivia—” “Having you around me is going
to hurt Liam.”
“He isn’t even here.” “So? He’s still my husband.” Simon pales. “Is that it? You haven’t been
able to hire another assistant.” His voice shakes toward the end. Guess he talked to others
at the company. But then it’s no secret. “That has nothing to do with my decision. I’ve
always made sure you knew that you’re my assistant, my most trusted person at the
company. I was thinking of promoting you after the new lines are established because I
needed somebody I could rely on. But it’s all moot now.” He looks at me like I just stuck a
knife into his belly. “Give me another chance, Olivia.” “You had your chances when I asked
you why Liam didn’t receive the r eport, and when you noticed he was outside my office as
you tried to get me to say something that’d undermine my marriage.” He bites his lip. “I
didn’t think he deserved you. Damn it, Olivia, I love you.” I stiffen in shock. Liam acted
slightly too possessive around Simon, but I didn’t realize... I shake my head. “My decision
won’t change.” “Don’t be cruel,” Simon manages, his eyes pleading. “Not cruel, just careful.
I can’t afford to let somebody who betrayed me multiple times stay in my orbit. I can’t trust
that they won’t do it again.” I roll the pavé ring like a rosary. “I hope you honor the NDA
you signed because I’d hate to have to pursue legal action. I won’t give you a bad reference,
if that’s what you’re worried about.” He flinches, as though struck. “Is that how you think of
me?” “How am I supposed to think, Simon?” I wait a beat, but he doesn’t answer. “Thank
you for your time today. I’ll make sure you won’t be bothered again on my behalf.” His face
crumbles, then he turns around and leaves. I ask to see the doctor. A man in his late fifties
or so walks in briskly and introduces himself as Dr. Carter. “How’s my baby?” I ask, hoping
for the best but bracing for the worst. “All good. You were lucky. Didn’t even crack a rib,”
he says with a gentle smile. I place a hand over my sore chest. “Guess whoever did CPR was
either very skilled or very careful. Did he come to the hospital, too?” I ask urgently.
Dr. Carter shrugs. “I’m not sure. Why?” “No reason.” I don’t want to explain my marital
situation. Nodding, he asks some questions and checks me out again, to make sure
everything’s all right. Then he prescribes what doctors often default to: Relax, don’t stress,
rest. After he’s gone, I sigh and slump against the pillows, then shiver as a chill settles over
me. I could have sworn it was Liam who pulled me out of the water... but was that just
wishful thinking? I lay a hand over my heart. I’d break all my ribs for a chance to be held by
him again.